Often, we put our full effort into something, but the outcome doesn't meet our expectations. Especially when life feels like a constant competition, disappointment and rejection seem to be ordinary experiences we frequently face.
Nowadays, the term "Resilience" is often mentioned—the ability to fall and get back up again. This skill doesn't mean being strong all the time or forcing a smile through pain, but rather understanding defeat from a new perspective. Just recently, two events highlighted this skill simultaneously.
The first occurred when Lomkao Pittayakom School won the championship in the 2026 Ferris Wheel competition. Teacher Sala Khunawut, one of the judges, congratulated them, saying this was the reward of defeat because this school was among the teams that had accumulated the most defeats.
The phrase "Defeat is not in vain; it can become fuel and power for us" helped completely change the perspective of other schools and viewers toward failure.
Additionally, Teacher Sala shared that during the competition, the students represented their school, but when the competition ended, the greater achievement was that all the youth came together to represent Thailand. This was a perfect expression that adults and society's benefactors should recognize, offer opportunities, and care for them comprehensively.
This reflects that when we do something wholeheartedly, its value always remains, even on days we might not win. Recognizing the worth in what we do is a crucial step toward mental strength.
Switching to another insightful conversation on Episode 84 of the "Hat Tam" show on Jue Pak channel, hosted by Eclair, Shinny Pimlapas, a rising star from Copenhagen, appeared as a guest. While making dry noodles and chatting cheerfully, Shinny shared experiences as a researcher facing repeated rejection.
Shinny said that each rejection might mean failure at that moment, but it doesn't mean giving up. The word "no" is not a blocking wall but a signpost reminding us to go back, do our homework, and come back to fight again.
From another viewpoint, rejection means that door is closed, and it's time to try opening a new one. Lingering too long in sadness or dwelling on it might cause us to miss other opportunities. So, if we see rejection as helping us quickly eliminate what's not right, we waste less time on disappointment.
Of course, no one likes negative criticism because it causes pain. But that pain helps us remember and understand where our weaknesses are. If we keep doing the same things expecting new results, repeated rejection will come back to us. It's a warning to improve ourselves and not remain stagnant.
The most important message Shinny left is not to judge your entire life’s worth by a single failure. Having an idea rejected or something not working doesn’t mean you are worthless or a loser; it simply means that timing and method might not be right yet.
Both Teacher Sala’s and Shinny’s perspectives give us a clearer picture of the skill to rise after falling. Surviving in a pressured society doesn’t mean being perfect without mistakes but understanding that disappointment is a ladder to growth. If we accumulate enough defeats and learn from them, one day they can become our path to success.
On days when the world is unkind, rejection may discourage us and criticism may hurt. Just don’t let those things undermine your self-pride. Stand up, keep searching for the right answers, and don’t let the world crumble just because of someone’s "no." Ultimately, every scar is part of the journey that shapes us into a stronger version of ourselves.
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